Spokeswoman Sally Cox says the project will create around 600 jobs during the construction phase, and will employ 500 people on an ongoing basis once the mine is in operation.

"So we do believe it will have a very positive input into the local Queensland and Australian economy," she says.

Ms Cox says the mine will help to replace production when the nearby Century mine closes in 2016.

"Century mine just up the road is one of the world's largest projects," she says.

"That mine we expect will have its current ore depleted in around 2016 so having the Dugald River project come on line at around 2015 will actually, we believe, will be very prudent in meeting what we see will be a shortfall in global supply for zinc at that point".

Ms Cox says full funding arrangements for the project should be finalised next year.